The Times New Romance

Chapter 21: The Hard Heart

Chapter 21

A Heart that is Hard to Serve

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"Sit, you have no money? I'll pinjem dong first!" Gio pleaded with the snoring Siti disliked.

"I don't have any money, Gio. The pocket money is very thin."

"There's class savings. I used to pinjem dong and I humuk my brother because rusakin motornya nih."

"Have a son! It's not my money, I don't want minjem-minjemin" Siti jolted to make Gio give up.

Gio turned to Mira who had just entered the classroom. "Mir-mir-mir, come here!" Mira approaches Gio and when the guy makes his point, Mira goes without turning away despite being called out repeatedly. "Oh, this is classmate at all stingy," grumbled Gio.

Ayna, who had just entered the classroom and was sitting next to Mira, was immediately asked a question that made Ayna frown. "Ayna, do you have more money?" ask Mira.

"Make what?"

"That Gio, the rich need money. She's taking nyamperin one-on-one class." Ayna glanced at Gio and sure enough the guy was busy questioning the newly arrived class especially girls. As the male friend asked, Gio shook his head and said nothing. Perhaps, he was embarrassed to borrow money from a male friend.

Ayna faces back to the front and meets Zayn who just entered the computer lab. The guy smiled faintly which Ayna gave back an awkward nod. Zayn passed his stool and gently ruffled the top of Ayna's head and sat in the back seat.

There's nothing special about Zayn's actions. From the first time, Zayn was happy to shake the top of Ayna's head. But this time, why the incredible effect? The thin smile was no longer annoying as usual, it was calming. The swab on the head no longer makes Ayna clucked, it is able to fly butterflies in Ayna's stomach. Even with just her actions, Ayna's cheeks became blushing. Ah, Ayna's gone crazy. Ayna also set her breath trying to muffle the foreign rumble in her chest. Is it time to trust Zayn?

***

Algorithm and Programming courses have ended, there are pascal program tasks that must be collected via email. After all sending them through their computers, Ayna leaves with Mira out of the lab when one voice calls out to her.

"Yine!" Ayna turned to Siti who waved her hand at one of the chairs. Ayna and Mira also approach Siti when her classmates begin to scatter out of class.

"Why, Siti?" a little Ayna asked him why Siti was dealing with him. Ayna is not close to all the students, only Mira is the only friend who is most comfortable for Ayna.

Siti looks agitated while removing the wallet that Ayna often sees when she saves in Siti. The girl thrust a brown rectangular wallet at Ayna. Ayna frowned in wonder. "Why are you given to me?"

Siti also stood up. "I was nitip on you first huh, Ayna. You're the only one I trust to hold the money. I have to go to your house after college, I'm afraid they're nosy and take the money. I put it on you, Ayna. I'll take it again tomorrow."

Ayna nodded in understanding. He did not mind to help and he asked the amount of money in the wallet to make sure that the amount would not decrease as long as Ayna held it. After Siti told her the nominal amount, they left the class. Ayna put the bag in the bag.

"You're the witness, Mir. The wallet I had simply put into the bag," said Ayna who became anxious to bring the money of the class. Mira also nodded in understanding.

***

Unlike usual Zayn will spy Ayna anywhere, the guy looks relaxed in class and waits for Ayna to come out of the building without saying much. Only through her flirtatious eyes that winked one eye, Ayna understood Zayn wanted to drive Ayna home. And strangely, Ayna's feet refused to leave.

"So, do you accept me as your girlfriend or not?" zayn said suddenly as they walked down the campus road to the cafeteria. Ayna just looked up and cleared her throat awkwardly, not saying a word. Zayn chided, "Ayna, what am I lacking?"

Ayna swerves. "Much."

Zayn instantly glared. "What's? Much?" Zayn fanned himself who felt hot and then began to fold one by one his fingers following the things he said. "I'm handsome, white, sharp, really cool again until it can teach you from zero to get a value A." Ayna snorted, Zayn started again. Ayna also stepped faster to leave Zayn while checking her vibrating phone. Zayn growled, "Ayna!" He ran after the girl who was busy typing something on her phone. "I'm a lot prettier than Nata, but why are you still in touch with him?" Zayn's teeth were grinding against the sepals.

Zayn was able to see clearly the name of the contact that read 'Nata' when Ayna was replying to her message. The question has gone home yet, really makes Zayn almost spit out all his entrails. However, that was not what made Zayn feel defeated, but a faint smile on Ayna's lips as she replied to the message. As if his heart was squeezed so hard, Zayn again felt pain.

"Ayna, I'm talking to you!" beat Zayn with a loud tone. Still unnoticed, Zayn robs Ayna's phone, causing the girl to stare at her.

"What, Zayn? You are narcissistic about yourself. I feel like I wasted my time knowing no!" ayna's reply was really upset at Zayn's narcissistic attitude.

Zayn sighed in disbelief."You don't shun me for the sake of bales chat is not important from Nata." Zayn was also bearded as if he had just finished untangling the tangled rope. "Do you like Nata?" the conclusion that makes Ayna's cold attitude makes sense.

Ayna gulps. That simple question seems like a difficult puzzle to answer. Even the three months that Ayna allowed to answer her feelings for Nata, did not give any answer. Ayna did not understand why she could be so foolish as to recognize her own feelings. He could not answer Zayn's question because he did not know the answer. Instead of answering, Ayna instead stuck out her hand trying to grab the phone that Zayn held up high until Ayna jumped up and down to reach the phone. "Zay! Balikin!"

"No. You haven't answered my question."

Zayn. He chuckles and returns Ayna's phone. Ayna walked first. Without Ayna knowing, Zayn's eyes turned red. He did not expect to be stuck in a love triangle with his own enemy. Zayn has repeatedly said that Nata is not a good person, why can everyone fall in love with Nata? Moreover, the person who Zayn hopes will return his love is actually in love with Nata?

Behind a white wall that looks like iron bars to Zayn with a chain of infusions tying his wrists every day, Zayn always hopes to feel love like the love of his father and mother. Reciprocate. Mutually understand. Mutually understand. He just found out that love can be this complicated. One thing that even mathematical formulas cannot answer because the heart is not a sure thing. Feelings that arise can sink one day and something muffled can come back to the surface without everyone noticing. The heart is a variable whose changes can never be predicted.

Zayn goes after Ayna. But in his third step, the back of Ayna he looked at suddenly blurred. Zayn cursed to God why his illness should recur at a time like this. His heart felt squeezed and his airway blocked. Right after the girl turned the corner of the building. His mother's gift watch set off repeated alarms quite loudly when Zayn's body collapsed to the ground. Zayn gripped tightly on the collar of his shirt. Many pairs of eyes gathered around him before dark seized his entire vision.

***

The medicine trolley that was pushed into the ward just stopped in the middle of the room. The patient, who was supposed to be lying on the bed, was no longer visible in Sister Jihan's vision. It had been a week since his warning, but the boy kept stubborn. Jihan breathed a sigh of anger. His hand reached into the pocket of his doctor's suit and made a call to Soraya's mother. He can't handle this anymore.

Fifteen minutes later, Soraya, with her breath heaving as she ran from the ground floor of the hospital, was sitting limp on the edge of her son's bed. Her heart was squeezed by reports that Zayn had escaped treatment.

"Zayn's condition is deteriorating, ma'am. The last time he fainted from playing basketball and several times he coughed up blood. Zayn shouldn't be out of the hospital yet."

Soraya let out a frustrated sigh, "Basic brat! I shouldn't have wanted him to go to college. He's always confident that he's capable when his physique isn't capable." Soara patted her chest that felt tight.

"Sorry, Mom. I should have been able to take good care of Zayn. " Soraya looked at Jihan who was bowing before her.

Soraya stood up and patted Jihan on the shoulder. "You're not wrong. It's purely my son's fault."

Jihan nodded small. Just then, Soraya's phone shook. Jihan was flabbergasted to see Soraya stiffen and just fall to the floor. "Mom? Why, Mom?" jihan was worried that he saw Soraya's face turn pale after looking at her phone screen.

"Please send an ambulance. My son's illness has recurred" Soraya said sobbing.

***

Today, Ayna ran from the front gate towards the department building in the hot sun. The one o'clock lecture was really excruciating. Because the bus arrived late, Ayna got off at the stop for a longer time. Ayna who was bathed in sweat also tidied herself up before opening the classroom door. Ayna was petrified in the doorway as she looked at her friends who turned in wonder at her. Ayna closed the door quickly. It was the wrong class! How humiliating! It seemed like the effects of the scorching sun burning the yam had burned his memory of where the real class was.

Ayna goes to the computer lab where the door is open. The lecturer had not been seen yet, making Ayna sigh in relief. He sat down next to Mira. "Ayna, I don't think you're going to college!" mira said that Ayna replied honestly that the bus she was waiting for was late.

Direct discrete math courses start with impromptu quiz. All students complain but cannot resist the lecturer. They also began to work with effort. Gio who chose to wait for the answers of others, Ranya and Via who always sat in a row in front of the bench who was able to answer questions even though occasionally discussing, was always able to answer questions, Mira who sighed repeatedly because she did not remember the slightest material.

Beside her, Ayna was able to carve out an answer that she was sure must be true. Inside his head revolved the explanation of Zayn even all the expressions of the boy when explaining expressively. Every time he reads a question, only Zayn's words get into his mind even the scolding of the guy when Ayna gives the wrong answer.

Ayna turned to the back bench where Hari and Pras were sitting there. He felt something was different in his heart when Zayn was not in his chair. Last time, Ayna was still talking to Zayn until ayna left him first because of aversion. He thought Zayn would show up in the cafeteria, but the guy disappeared and didn't attend the second course. Zayn is not seen to this day. Zayn usually never misses class.

"Why, nyariin Zayn huh?"

Ayna nodded in her chair. Then glared at Mira who had been holding an amused smile. Mira was happy to insinuate him. His friend was the first to match him with Zayn even once Mira handed over the results of a love prophecy between Ayna Nabila and Zayn Abhicandra which earned 99% points%. From then on, Mira becomes convinced that Ayna is a perfect match for Zayn.

"Mira Haryanti, than you know so much that you are focusing on her quiz," said Ayna who even made Mira laugh even more even though only her sigh was heard. Ayna also grumbled and refocused on working on the matter.

All students seemed able to breathe a sigh of relief once the lecturer left the class. Siti who became the treasurer was immediately pitted with money from the class who were eager for a vacation at Villa Ranya. Siti also reached into her bag and was surprised because her wallet was not there. He just remembered that his wallet was being tucked into Ayna.

Siti also approached Ayna at her desk who was playing a mobile phone. Siti glanced at Ayna's phone which was different from the one the girl used to wear. Ayna has just bought a new phone by Faza. Not because of Ayna's phone problem is precisely Faza's phone is damaged. Instead of Faza using his new cell phone, his father exchanged it for Ayna's.

"Ayna, my wallet's still on you, right?" Ayna looked up and nodded enthusiastically. Ayna also unzipped her bag that she did not open since last night. He was stirring up his bag. The relaxed look that had crossed his face now turned hard with sweat that felt through the pores of his skin. Ayna turned to Mira who was now putting on a tense face.

"Why, Ayna?" mira asked as Ayna began to be infiltrated with panic.

As if to attract attention, the three people who had been pointing at Siti also surrounded Siti, Ayna, and Mira. Even Ranya and Via who were about to leave the classroom quietly took notice. They ask each other questions which makes Ayna panic. He remembered that the wallet had been put in the bag and Ayna had not left the bag even once. Ayna began to pull out all the contents of her bag one by one until the last thing she took out, no chocolate wallet belonging to Siti.

"Fruit?" Ranya's words with a cynical tone made everyone so gaping in disbelief. Ranya approached Ayna's bench as the girl's hand shook violently. Ayna also folded her hands together in front of her body. Mira beside him pats Ayna's shoulder trying to give strength.

"Where's my wallet, Ayna?" urge Siti who is also feeling depressed. "That's class money," his sigh of disbelief that even further cornered Ayna the only guilty party.

"I-I tried to find it again. Probably missed at home," Ayna stuttered back.

Ranya grunts amusedly. "Why dong if the money is really good? Can you pay back nearly three million in class?"